Combination article for household use



Patented Dec. 20, I898.

C. E. KUHN.

COMBINATION ARTICLE FOR HOUSEHOLD USE.

(Application filed Jan. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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lhvrrnn STATES PATENT *OFFICTE,

CHARLIE ELSXVORTII KUHN, OF MONT ALTO, PENNSYLYANIA.

COMBINATION ARTICLE FOR HOUSEHOLD USE.

SPECIFICATLION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,337, dated December 20, 1898.

Application filed January 7, 1 898.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLIE ELSWORTH KUHN, of Mont Alto, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Combination Article for Household Use, of which the following-is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in combination articles for household use and comprises as a base a frame which has corner-posts secured together by suitable cross bars or rungs at each end and the end frames connected by suitable braces, so that the same may be folded when desired, and provided with means by which various attachments may be secured thereto, so as to adapt the device to various uses. To this framework as a base are secured attachments which adapt the device for use as a table, a flowerstand, and a clothesrack.

The invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of the several parts, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken upon the line 1 l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the table-top. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the frame in its folded condition.

The framework consists of two end frames formed by the corner-posts A and the connecting horizontal rungs R, R, and R The two frames are connected to each other and held in a vertical position by means of diagonal braces B, pivoted to the lower rung of one end frame and to the middle rung of the other end frame and crossing each other at the middle of their length. The pivotal connection of the braces to the rungs is by means of cap'plates B attached by rivets or their equivalents to the ends of the braces, the brace being suitably recessed and the capplate having a raised portion, in which latter and the recess in the brace the rung is received. The braces are secured to each other and the frame is held against folding by means of a locking-bar, which consists of a Serial No. 665,885. (No model.)

bar or wire I), bent at each end in planes which are at right angles to each other and to the body of the bar. Each of these bent ends is inserted in holes suitably located upon the two braces, so that the locking-bar may be swung upon one end as a pivot to disengage its other end from the other bar. Either end of the locking-bar may be used as a pivot, or one end may be firmly fixed to one of the braces.

To further stiffen the connection of the braces B with the end frames, stay rods or braces B are provided, which are bent at their middle, and each end is formed into an eye, which embraces the ends of themiddle rung R. Preferably the eyes formed at the ends of the braces lie in recesses formed in the rungs B, so as to prevent movement of the braces longitudinally upon said rungs. The central bend formed in this rod is secured to the brace B by means of a staple b. This prevents the stay-brace from sliding upon the brace B and holds the end frame against being rocked sidewise.

When the locking-bar b is released from one of the braces B, the upper ends of the end frames may be swung toward the center and the frame folded into the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position it occupies only a small amount of space and may be stowed out of the way.

The top and bottom rungs R and R are attached to the corner-posts at a point'shortly inside of either end of the post. This leaves a portion of the post projecting above and below the rungs. The upper end of the post projects only a slight distance above the rung and furnishes a point for attachment of the table-top. This table-top is formed, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, of two sections G, the line of-division being in the middle of the table-top. Each section has end cross-bars G,which are provided with circular recesses 9, located at such a point that when the two halves of the top are brought together these recesses will fit over the upper ends of the corner-posts and be held thereby against sliding sidewise. The cross-bars G are made longer upon one side than upon the other and are cut so that one-half the width of the bar extends a greater distance than the other and projects beyond the edge of its half of the table-top. The table-top may also be provided with similar projecting cross-bars G located at the center of its length. The ends of these latter bars engage beneath the two sections of the table-top and bind the two together, so that neither can rise without the other also rising. Upon one end of each section of the table-top is mounted a sliding bar or hook H, formed of a rod bentinto a U shape, with one leg of the U longer than the other, the longer leg being mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table-top in the cross-bar G. The end of this longer leg is provided with a knob or bend,which will prevent its being pulled out of the guiding-hole. It may, however, be pulled out to such a distance that the shorter leg will clear the upper rung R of the end frames. The width of the bend is such that when the hook H is moved inward it will closely embrace the rung and hold the table-top upon the frame. This construction firmly binds the table-top to the frame and makes a light table, which may be used for any purpose to which a table is capable of being put. When not in use,

the table may be taken apart and folded away in a small space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A supporting-frame for combination household furniture, comprising end frames each having side posts and connecting'crossrungs located one above the other, brace-rods each pivoted upon the upper of said rungs upon one frame and the lower of said rungs upon the other frame, stay-braces consisting of a rod having eyes in its ends embracing and journaled upon the outer ends of the upper of said pivot-rungs, the intermediate portion of the stay-brace being bent and extending diagonally to the brace-rods and a locking-staple secured to the brace-rod and embracing the center of the stay-brace, substantially as described.

2. A supporting frame for combination household furniture, comprising end frames, each having corner-posts and connecting cross -rungs located one above the other, brace-rods pivoted upon the upper of said rungs on one frame and the lower of said rungs on the other frame, and provided with lockreceiving holes and a lock for said brace-rods, consisting of a wire or rod having its ends bent at right angles to the body thereof and to each other, and fitting holes in said bracerods, substantially as described.

3. A combination article for household use, comprising a frame having a cross-bar or support at each end,corner-posts projecting above the frame, and a top adapted to be placed on said posts to form a table, and consisting of two parts, each having recesses beneath it adapted to receive the upper projecting ends of the corner-posts, cross-bars attached beneath each end of said top and projecting beyond its inner edge, and a hook or yoke sliding upon said top sections and adapted to engage the supporting-frame, substantially as described.

4. A combination article for household use, comprising a frame havinga cross-bar or support at each end,corner-posts projecting above the frame, and a top adapted to be placed on said posts to form a table, and consisting of two parts, each having cross-bars attached beneath each end, said cross-bars having holes adapted to receive the upper ends of the posts, and a portion of the width of the inner end of said cross-bars projecting beyond the edge of the top, and a rod at one end of each seetion, bent to form a U-shaped hook having one leg longer than the other, said long leg being reciprocable longitudinally of the top in the cross-bars, and the short section being adapted to embrace the cross-bars of the frame, substantially as described.

CHARLIE ELSWORTH KUHN.

Witnesses:

MAURICE D. JACOBS, J OHN WEIL, Jr. 

